Skid platform



C. w. ULSH SKID PLATFORM Nov. 7, 1933.

Filed Aug. 1, 1951 XM' ATTORNEY/ 1 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to portable skids or platforms used for supporting articles for transportation on lifting trucks. The portable skids or platforms now in use cannot be stacked compactly and thus when stacked for storage or shipment take up an unnecessary amount of space.

An object of this invention is an inexpensive and durable skid platform of such structure that ill a plurality of the platforms may be stacked one on the other with the legs of each superposed platform .in nested relation to the platform below it, thereby permitting stacking of such platforms in a compact space and reducing space requirements for storage of such platforms.

According to the present invention, the skid platform comprises a floor provided with lateral frames or other structural supporting members. Legs or supports are attached to the frames and extend downwardly from the same. The platforms are provided with openings, apertures or recesses to receive the legs of a superposed platform, thus permitting the nested relation. Preferably, the legs are of U-shape and are attached to the frames with their open upper ends in register with the openings, recesses or apertures. With this arrangement, the legs of a superposed platform are received within the corresponding legs of the lower platform in nested relation. Means may be provided on the under portion of each platform for spacing the platforms apart so that the nested legs cannot contact with each other and become jammed one in the other. This arrangement permits stacking'of the skid platforms in nested relation so that they will require only a portion of the storage space required by the type of skid platform ordinarily in use.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective'view of ,a nested stack of skid platforms embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a platform;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another modi flcation, and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a'further modiflcation.

The floor of the skid platform comprises a plurality of planks 10 arranged transversely of the platform and having their ends received between the horizontal flanges of two metal angle members 11 and 12 which constitute a side frame. The angle member 11 has a vertical flange which overlies the ends of the floor boards and the edge of the horizontal flange of the angle member 12, this flange being provided with a reinforcing rib 11a. The angle member 12 is also provided with a reinforcing vertical flange. The horizontal flanges of the members 11 and 12 are held in assembled relation to the floor boards 10 by bolts or rivets 13 passing through the flanges and the "floor boards or in any other suitable manner.

Legs or supports 14 are attached to the frames preferably by means of the bolts 13. These legs or supports are preferably formed from strap metal and preferably are of substantially U shape with the open end of the U extending upwardly. The lower portion of the U preferably is made fiat to provide proper contact for the legs with the floor.

The frame members 11 and 12 are provided with apertures 15 preferably in register with the open upper ends of the legs 14 and the floor boards 10 in alinement with the apertures are made shorter than the remaining floor boards. The apertures in the frame members are formed by striking out sections which are turned into engagement with the floor boards. The portions 16 struck out from the frame members 11 are $5 bent over the ends of the short floor boards to fasten them in place. The portions 17 struck out from the frame members 12 are bent under the ends of the short floor boards to support the same.

The platforms are thus provided with recesses in register with the legs so that the legs of a platform may receive the legs of a superposed platform in nested relation as shown in Fig. 1. The vertical spacing of the platforms may be determined by the vertical flanges of the frame members 12, the flanges of an upper platform engaging the floor of a lower platform and limiting the extent to which the legs of the upper platform may extend into the legs of the lower platform. This vertical flange preferably is of such dimensions as to prevent one set of legs from being jammed into another set of legs and 'the modification disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 and the platform's may be stacked in nested relation in the same manner.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 6, the pertions struck out of the horizontal flanges of the frame members 11 are discarded entirely and the short floor members are fastened in place and supported by portions struck out of the frame members 12. Tabs 18 are bent up over the ends and the top faces of the short floor members while the major portion of the struck out portion 17 is bent to underlie the ends of these floor boards. a

In the modification disclosed in Fig. '7, the lateral frame members are made up from single strips of metal 19 which are bent to overlie and underlie the ends of the floor boards. is attached to the floor boards by means of bolts 13 or otherwise and the upper and lower flanges are provided with apertures. 15 formed by striking out portions 16 and 17 of the upper and lower flanges and bending the same over the ends of the short floor boards and under the ends of said floor boards as described in connection with the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1. These strips are also provided with reinforcing vertical flanges which may serve to determine the spacing between platforms when in nested relation'and are provided with strengthening ribs 19a.

The above described structures are merely examples of different embodiments of the invention and it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A skid platform comprising a plurality of transverse floor members, lateral frame members embracing the ends of said floor members, and

This strip having recesses, metal strap legs attached, to said frame members, said legs being of U-shape and having their open ends facing upwardly in register with said recesses whereby platforms may be arranged in superposed relation with the legs of one nested in the legs of another.

2. A skid platform comprising a plurality of transverse floor members, lateral frame members embracing the ends of the floor members, portions struck out of said frame members to form apertures and being folded into-engagement with certain of the floor members, metal strap legs attached to said frame members, said legs being substantially U-shape and having their open ends facing the recesses formed in the frame members.

3. A skid platform comprising a plurality of transverse floor members, certain of which are less in length than the others. metal frame members embracing the ends of the longer floor members, portions struck out from said lateral members and bent into engagement with the shorter floor members to support and fasten the same in position, metal strap legs attached to said frame members, said legs being U-shape and having their open ends facing the apertures formed in said frame members.

4. In combination, a platform comprising a plurality of transverse members, longitudinal frame members embracing the ends of said transverse members, said frame members'having depending reinforcing flanges and U-shaped legs attached to said frame members with their open ends facing upwardly, said platform having apertures in alinement withsaid legs to permit stacking of the platforms with the legs in nested relation.

CHARLES WALTER ULSH. 

